Combined spark-plug and priming device.



A. PACHE.

COMBINED SPARK PLUG AND PRIM'ING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. I9l6.

Patented Oct. 9, I9l7.

IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIII .IIIIIIIIIII IIILIIxIIIIIIIilIIIIIIII AUGUSTE PACHE, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

COMBINED SPABKPLUG AND PRIMING DEVICE.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 9, 1917.

Application filed May 3, 1916. Serial No. 95,264.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, AUGUSTE PACHE, a subject of Switzerland, residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, county and State of New York, liave invented a certain new and useful Combined Spark-Plug and Priming Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a combined spark plug and priming device, and the salient object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described which will be extremely simple in construction, the parts of which may be readily dismantled for cleansing purposes, and which device may operate to allow of the infiow of a priming Huid into an engine cylinder without the necessity of detaching any of the constituent parts of said device. A further object of the invention is the formation of the main barrel of the spark plug from asbestos material, whereby the cost of manufacture is minimized and yet high efliciency results.

Features of the invention, other than those specified, will be apparent from the following description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

'In the drawings is illustrated one practical embodiment of the present invention, but the construction therein shown is to be understoodhs illustrative only and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a combined spark plug and priming device embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section therethrough, and

Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of the form of tiring electrically which I prefer t0 employ.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a metallic shell threaded, as at ci, to screw into a threaded tap of an engine cylinder. The upper portion of shell A is interiorly threaded to receive an exteriorly threaded tubular plugr B which carries or supports the remaining )oitions of the spark plug and priming evice.

Positioned within the plug B is the dependinY tubular stem c of an insulating block through which extends a tubular metallic bushing D. Bushing D is provided intermediate its ends with a shoulder (l and said bushing is substantially frustoconical in contour -or a short distance above the shoulder. The interior surface of plug B is also haste-conica] so that, when ,assembling the parts B, C and D, the lower portion of the tubular stem o of the insulating block is distended, as shown in Fig. 2, to such extent as to wedge the parts tightly t0- gether and lock block C and plug B. The bushing D is held in the position shown to maintain the parts in assembled relation by means of a nut ci', which is screwed onto the upper portion of the bushing D, the same being exteriorly threaded to coperatc with said nut. Nut d' seats on a Washer d2 superimposed upon the upper face of insulating block C.

Preferably formed integral with nut d and on the upper portion thereof, is a bowlshaped vessel E, adapted to contain the hydrocarbon liquid for priming the engine, and said liquid is adapted to flow from the vessel E, through ducts e formed in the bushing D at the base of the vessel, into the interior passage of the bushing and down through and beyond the lower end of said passage into the interior of the shell A, thence passing directly into the engine cylinder.

As is generally the case in spark plugs, shell A, which threads into the top of the exigirle. is metallic and is, accordingly, in electrical connection with the casting of the engine, which is electrically grounded. The shell, therefore. serves as one of the electrodes of the ignition circuit, the other electrode being, in accordance with this invention, embodied in a detachable pin F slidably positioned within the tubular bushin D.

lThe pin F is shown in detail in Fi 3 as embodying a metallic member, provided at one end with a threaded stem f, and adjacent cylindrical portion f', and at its opposite end With a reduced cylindrical portion f2. Adjacent the portion f2 is a portion f3 which is preferably polygonal in cross section and extends from the portion f2 to a short distance from the .ortion f, and intermediate portion f3 and) f is a portion f4, of reduced cylindrical cross section. Upon the stem f is adapted t0 be positioned a thimhle g, provided-With a laterally extending arm g carrying at its end an insulating knob G. The thimble seats on the upper end of the cylindrical portion f and is securely locked in place by a jam nut g2 screwed on the stem The interior of the thimble g is threaded and the threads thereof are adapted. to .coperate with the isf threaded portion ofthe bushing D Whichcxtends upwardly beyond the vessel E, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus, by;l rotating'he handle G, the thimble is raised or lowered upon the bushing D, with the-result` that the electrode F is raised or lowered. The cylindrical portion f of electrode F is of such diameter as to snugly fit the interior, bore ot bushing l), and said portion f' is of such length that, when the thimble g is screwed down tightly upon the upper end of: said bushing, the portion f' will be `depressed to such extent as to cover or seal the inner ends of the ducts e. The portion. thus serres as a plunger valve for con,- trolling the flow of the priming fluidi from the vessel E to the interior of the bushing.

However, when it is desired to prime the' engine` the handle G may be rotatedv to uns screw thimble g and lift plunger f' to. aA position abore the ducts e, thereby opening the ducts and allowing of the free circula.- tion of the priming fluid. It has hereinbei'orc been stated that the portion f3 of the. electrode F is polygonal in cross section, thepurpose of this being to allow the priming fluid' to circulate downwardly through the passageof the bushing about the polygonal portion, which, because of its shape,` does not entirely lill thecylindrical passage of said bushing.

It will, of course, be understood that, in completing the ignition circuit of the enengine, the main from the magneto, battery or coil is secured to the threaded stem, the other pole of the circuit being grounded, as is common.

From the foregoing description, it will be manifest that, for priming the engine, it is not necessary to rotate the knob or handle G tosuch extent as to raise the plunger f suliiciently tounseal the liquid ducts 0,.

whereupon priming fluid deposited in the vessel E will pass through said ducts and through the passage of the bushing D to.th,e cylinder. Upon the conclusion of the priming operation, the thiinble g is again seated by a counter-rotation of the handle G and the engine is free to carry out its normal operations, it being understood that the spark occurs between the lower end o-f the electrode F and the lower edge of the shelL A. Because of the threaded connection between plug B and shell A, the adjustment mayv readily be made between the sparking parts.

lt is thus unnecessary, in the carrying out of the priming operation, to detach any of ihe parts` but merely lift the electrode F a short distance. As a matter of fact, no part is detached during this operation or left in such position that, if the charge is fired in the engine cylinder, the parts. may be blown off With resulting damage, as has frequently been the case in prior art devices.

However, i'it were desired to clean the electrode F, the same may be readily removed 0r withdrivwnwlfmom the bushing D by nuscrewing the thimble beyond its priming position sulii'ci'ently' tio release the thimble from the threads of the bushing. After removing the electrode F, the same may be cleansed of foreign matter and carbon and again properly positioned in the plug by reversing the detaehing operation.

As hereinbefore stated, the insulating bl'ocltC islpreferablyA formed from asbestos. In S ark plugs as heretofore constructed,l it has en common to make the insulating portion of theplug 'from porcelain or mica. In` theY first Ain stance, the characteristics ol the porcelain are such that a.y sharp knock willcause thebrittle material4 to shatter and thus disrupt the plug: lfn the second in: stancethe mica is laid in very thin sheets and subsequently cut to shape. This process is soy expensive that; only` high priced plugs are constructed in this manner. l have found by experiment that asbestos may be employed in, the manufacture of the inf siilating` portioniof the plug, which asbestos may be pressed into shape to form an entire insulating block, or niay be assembled in. the form of thick disks super-imposed one upon the other. The resultingfplug isV economical to manufacture, isproperly in.- sulated and is not open to` objectionsA inf herent in the porcelain or mica. plugs. Moreover, the exposed surface of the asbestos may be highly polished, thereby making the plug neat and pleasing in appearance.

It will' be noted from Fig. 2 that the bushing D extends downwardly almost to the lower end of the plug and it thus forms a guide for the electrode F. Accordingly, even thou h the reduced lower end f2 of Said electrode ecomes highly heated, the electrode will not get out of plumb and shortcircuit through the lower end of shell. A. This is an important advantage since it is well-known that the temper is drawn from the electrodes of theplu and a jaa of the en ine is likely to bend ailong thin electrode su ciently` to short-circuit the plug at the point where the spark normally occurs. This cannot result in the plug of this inrention asthelower end of the bushing serves to steady the lower end of the electrode F, while in its heated condition.

Another marked advantage of the present plug oven those of the prior art is the fact that there is. no leakage of current in the asbestos insulating block and that the asbestos is not,. in the least, affected by heat. It iswell-known that a. large percentage of the breakage of plugs embodying porcelain insulating members is due to the fact that when. the-plug heats up, the expansion in the plug; is unequal and this causes porcelain to break. This drawback, while common in porcelain plugs, is not inherent in those embodying mica insulating blocks, but in the latter case the plugs are apt to become short-circuited by moisture Working in between the sheets of mica, from which the insulating blocks are composed. Neither of the foregoing disadvantages is present in the plug of this invention, since heat has n0 effect upon the asbestos and it is not the least affected by atmospheric changes.

Looking at the matter from a practical standpoint, the plug embodies many advantages, some of which have hereinbefore been noted. However, an additional one may be mentioned in passing. It is frequently desirable to blow out an engine cylinder and this is generally accomplished by opening [he pet-cock. In accordance with this invcutiou. however, the blowing out of the cylinder may be accomplished by simply elevating the electrode pin F to such extent as to unseal the ducts leading to the vessel E. This operation, while forming an outlet from the interior of the cylinder, does not disturb the relative operative positions of the spark electrodes. Accordingly, when the ducts e are opened, as described, the engine may be operated and the explosions occurring therein will exhaust, through the plug, any foreign matter such as grease, etc., which may be. resident in the cylinder or in the plug. In many prior art plugs this operation is impossible since, in order to blow out the engine through the plug, it is necessar)v to remove one of the electrodes. Accordingly, in a plug of such type a charge cannot be ignited in the cylinder when the plug is in priming condition.

Morpover, in many of the priming plugs heretofore us'ed, a portion of the compressed charge of gas in the cylinder was free to enter the plug, with the result that the plug became unduly heated throughout its entire extent. It will be noted, from Fig. 2 of the dra wing, that this cannot occur in the plug therein shown for the reason that between the portions f2 and f8 of the pin F there is a frusto-conical portion f5 which, when the pin is in a depressed osition, seats on a ledge 73 formed on the interior of the bushing l) and near the lower end thereof. This seating of the truste-conical portion f seals the bushing D at this point and precludes the entry of the products of combustion or gaseous charges into the body of the plug.

It will be manifest from the foregoing description that the present invention embodies many features of novelty which, when employed in combination, produce a priming plug of greatly increased eiiiciency. It will he understood, however, that many advantages of the invention ma be obtained through the em loyment o some of the features individua ly without necessarily employing all. The invention is, therefore, to be understood as not limited to the specific showing made, but to be as broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the class described, a spark plug provided with a centrally disposed, longitudinally extending tubular metallic member, the upper end of which protrudes above the upper end of the plug, a liquid containing vessel surrounding the upper portion ol said tubular member, ducts leading from the interior of the vessel to the interior passage of the tubular member, a lhimhle provided with a handle threaded upon the upper portion of the stem, and a lire piu extending through the passage of u tubular member and secured to the thimble, whereby (he location of the thimble raises or lowers the pin, said pin being provided with a plunger portion adapted to closely fit the interior of the tubular portion to seal the ducts when said plunger is in depressed position and unseal the. duets when in an elevated position, thereby allowing liquid deposited in the vessel to pass through the ducts into and through the passage of the tubular member.

ln a device of the class described, a spark plug provided at its upper end With a cupshapcd vessel, a tubular member extending longitudinally through the plug and vessel, and ducts through the wall of the tubular member opening communication between the interior of the vessel and the passage of said tubular member, whereby liquid deposited in the vessel is adapted to pass through said ducts and through the passage of the tubular member, in combination with a firing electrode positioned for longitudinal move ment within, the passage of the tubular member and provided near its upper end with a thimble having threaded connection with the upper end of the tubular member,

va handle on said thimble for raising or lowering the same or. the threads of the tubular member, and a plunger portion cooperating with said electrode and conforming in shape to the interior of the tubular member, whereby the raising of the electrode unseals the ducts from the vessel and the lowering of said electrode seals said ducts.

3. In a device of the class described, a spark plug provided at its upper end with a cup-shaped vessel, a tubular member eX- tendiug longitudinally through the plug and vessel, and ducts through the wall of the tubular member opening communication between the interior of the vessel and the passage of said tubular member, whereby liquid deposited in the vessel is adapted to pass through said ducts and through the passage of the tubular member, in combination with a firing electrode positioned for longitudinal movement within the passage of the tubular member and provided near its upper end with a thimble having threaded connection with the upper end of the tubular member, a handle on said thimblc for raising or lowering the same on the threads of the tubular member, and a plunger portion coperating with said electrode and conforming in shape to the interior of the tubular member. whereby the raising of the electrode unseals the ducts from the vessel and the lowering of said electrode seals Said ducts, said sealing and uusealing operations being accomplished without releasing the threads of the thimble from the threads of the tubular member.

4. In a device of the class described. a spark plug embodying at its lower end a metallic attaching shell and having at its upper end a metallic cup-shaped vessel. an elongated asbestos portion intermediate the shell and vessel, and a tubular metallic member extending longitudinally of the plug for securing the shell to the vessel. said tubular portion having ducts communicating with the interior of the tubular member and the interior of the vessel, in combination with a firing electrode positioned for longitudinal movement within the passage of the tubular member and provided near its upper end with a thimble having threaded connection with the upper `end of the tubular member, a handle on said thimble for raising or lowering the same on the threads of the tnbular member, and a plunger portion cooperating with said electrode and conforming in shape to the interior of the tubular member, whereby the raising of the electrode unseals the .ducts from the vessel and the lowering of said electrode seals said ducts.

5. In a device of the class described, a spark plug embodying at its lower end a metallic attaching shell and having at its upper end a metallic cup-shaped vessel, an elongated asbestos portion intermediate the shell and vessel, and a tubular metallic member extending longitudinally of the plug for securing the shell to the vessel, said tubular portion having ducts communicating with the interior of the tubular member and the interior of the vessel, in combination with a firing electrode positioned for longitudinal movement within the passage of the tubular member and provided near its upper end with a thimble having threaded connection with the upper end of the tubular member. a handle on said thimble for raising or lowering the same on the threads of the tubular member, and a plunger portion cooperating with said electrode and conforming in Shape to the interior of the tubular member, whereby the raising of the electrode Lin-seals the ducts from the vessel and the lowering of said electrode seals said ducts, said tubular member extending below the asbestos portion to substantially the lower end of the plug to surround and guide the lower portion of the electrode and thereby preclude short-circuiting of said electrode with the shell when the electrode is in a heated condition.

6. In a device of the class described, a spark plug provided with a longitudinal passage, a vessel,` ducts communicating with the vessel and said passage, a piston slidable longitiulinally ot' said passage. an electrode movable with .said piston` means for moving the piston to a position to close the ducts from the vessel, and additional means cooperating with the electrode for closing the passage through the plug.

7. In a device of the class described, a spark plug provided with a longitudinal passage, a vessel, ducts communicating with the vessel and said passage. an electrode mounted for sliding increment in said passage, said electrode being so formed as to normally seal the ducts from the vessel and also seal the lower end of the passage to preclude the entrance of material into the lower portion of said passage as well as the upper portion thereof, a piston slidahle longitudinally of said passage, an electrode movable with said piston, means for moving the piston to a position to close the ducts from the vessel, and additional means cooperating with the electrode for closing the passage through the plug.

8. In a device of the class described, a spark plug embodying an attaching shell, a collar having threaded connection therewith, the interior of said collar being upwardly tapered, an insulating member seated on the free edge of said collar and having a tubular stem extending into the interior thereof, a metallic bushing extending longitudinally through the insulating member and threaded at its upper end to receive a securing member, said bushing being provided with a shoulder adapted to engage the lower edge of the tubular stem of the insulating member, and a portion of said bushing immediatelyT above the shoulder being shaped in conformity with the interior of the collar, whereby, when the retaining member is screwed tightly upon the bushing, a portion of the depending stem of the insulating member is distended to such extent as to securely lock the'insulating portion and collar to the bushing.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

AUGUSTE PACHE.

Copies q1 this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

